Clinical and Organizational Factors in the Initial Evaluation of Patients With Lung Cancer

Abstract

of Recommendations 4.4.1. For patients with known or suspected lung cancer, we suggest that the delivery of care be timely and effi cient (Grade 2C). Remark: Interventions to improve timeliness should be developed locally by addressing barriers to providing timely care that are specifi c to the local setting. Remark: Efforts to improve timeliness should be balanced with the need to attend to other dimensions of Background: This guideline is intended to provide an evidence-based approach to the initial evaluation of patients with known or suspected lung cancer. It also includes an assessment of the impact of timeliness of care and multidisciplinary teams on outcome. Methods: The applicable current medical literature was identifi ed by a computerized search and evaluated using standardized methods. Recommendations were framed using the approach described by the Guidelines Oversight Committee of the American College of Chest Physicians. Data sources included MEDLINE and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Results: Initial evaluation should include a thorough history and physical examination; CT imaging; pulmonary function tests; and hemoglobin, electrolyte, liver function, and calcium levels. Additional testing for distant metastases and paraneoplastic syndromes should be determined on the basis of these results. Paraneoplastic syndromes may have an adverse impact on cancer treatment, so they should be controlled rapidly with the goal of proceeding with defi nitive cancer treatment in a timely manner. Although the relationship between timeliness of care and survival is diffi cult to quantify, efforts to deliver timely care are reasonable and should be balanced with the need to attend to other dimensions of health-care quality (eg, safety, effectiveness, effi ciency, equality, consistency with patient values and preferences). Quality care will require multiple disciplines. Although it is diffi cult to assess the impact, we suggest that a multidisciplinary team approach to care be used, particularly for patients requiring multimodality therapy. Conclusions: The initial evaluation of patients with lung cancer should include a thorough history and physical examination, pulmonary function tests, CT imaging, basic laboratory tests, and selective testing for distant metastases and paraneoplastic syndromes. CHEST 2013; 143(5)(Suppl):e121S-e141S